PERFUMES AND THEIR PREPARATION. 351
With the advent of prohibition and the subsequent restrictions
tihe use of pure alcohol attempts were made to devise for-
j.la,s which would be suitable for use in perfumes, toilet waters,
iar tonics, and so forth. A number of these have been offi-
illy recognized and are already in common use. In most
se^s they may be said to work out satisfactorily, but as re-
rds fine perfumes it is still a subject for discussion, sometimes
rirrionious, whether there is any substitute for pure alcohol.
-A. discussion of the various official formulas would be profit-
ss, as they are subject to change at short notice and may be
Ltttdrawn or modified before this book is off the press. Such
cxdiftcations are being made frequently in the effort to find
cohol formulas which will be as satisfactory as possible, both
the users and to the Government authorities who have ever
a most commendable desire to co-operate in the matter,
denaturants are proposed from time to time for special
ir-poses, and if they prove practical and satisfactory are fre-
lerntly incorporated into special permitted formulas for "indus-
istl" alcohol.
The task has been relatively simple in the case of hair tonics,
ou.th washes and preparations of somewhat similar character.
i this class of preparations the perfume is incidental and is
:ne rally not of the sort to be particularly damaged by the addi-
:>n of foreign substances to the alcohol since in many cases the
iirfume is used primarily to cover the inherent and not too
jrjreeable odor of the product.
It is when we come to the finer extracts and toilet waters
ta.t the question of denaturants becomes acute. The use of the
jirest, undenatured alcohol is to be advocated, but when the tax
n pure alcohol makes its use in all except the most expensive
reparations impossible and when it is frequently difficult to get
at any price owing to permit regulations many perfumers are
3x~ced to use the denatured alcohols, made according to special
>x~mulas which are supposed to fit them for perfume use.